Mine car



June 10, 1947.

H. w. SANFQRD MINE CAR Filed July 19, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q IA/VEA/TOI? HTTOIPKVEYY June 10, 1947. H. w. SANFORD MINE CAR Filed July 19, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 10, 1947. I H. w. SANFORD "MINE CAR Filed July 19, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 AIWIIHIMIII xiIlx 2 irrolm/sya I June 10, 1947. H. w. SANFORD 2,422,136

MINE CAR Filed July 19, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 f/vm-vvrake June 10, 1947.

H. W. SANFORD MINE CAR Filed July 19, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 illi f H. W. SANFORD MINE CAR Filed July- 19, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 10, 1947.

June 10, 1947. H. w. SANFORD MI-NE CAR 7 I Filed July 19, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I fig Patented June 10, 1947 MINE CAR Hugh W. Sanford, Knoxville, Tenn, assignor to The Sanford Investment Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application July 19, 1939, Serial No. 285,393

32 Claims.

The invention relates generally to mine cars or other vehicles and primarily seeks to provide certain new and useful frame and body structure combinations designed to simplify manufacture of cars of this character and provide a maximum of lading space therein for the same over-all dimensions of cars and inconjunction with cars having limited outside dimensions as well as required practical Working clearances above the ground outside the wheels.

In the manufacture of mine cars it is, of course, desirable to make the cars as simple and sturdy in construction as is possible, and also to provide the maximum of ladin space obtainable therein Within the practical limits. One conventional means of providing added lading space is to equip the cars with side wing structures which project laterally beyond the wheels in a plane cutting the wheels. These low side Wing extensions necessitate the building of hoods over the wheels and these hood structures sometimes seriously hamper the mounting and removal of wheel structures. It is also customary to provide inwardly and downwardly flared bottom portions in such side wing structures, these slopes downwardtowards the car sills being necessary in cars of the bottom dumping type to properly shed the lading into the bottom dump opening, and in cars of the rotary or end dumping type, to enable a low positioning of the inner limits of the wing bottoms and the relatively high positioning of the outer limits of said bottoms that may be essential to the provision of necessary roadbed clearances outwardly of the car supporting trackage. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide novel frame and body combination structures which will permit the mounting and removal of wheels and at the same time enable the positioning of the flared wing bottoms so that they start relatively close to the wheels and at the same time at unusually low levels, even at times intersecting the wheel axes outwardly of the upright or upwardly sloping sections of the sill-means, as the case may be, when these sections lie close to the adjacent oar wheels, thereby providing considerably increased lading space as compared with conventional constructions of cars with the same over-all dimensions and road clearances.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel sill structures which facilitate the wing bottom positioning referred to and in which vertical sill walls are split and. bent so as to provide vertical portions disposed within the hood limits, to be rigidly fastened to the hood walls and thus give extra strength to the sills at the hood-box whereat the wheel hubs and axles would tend otherwise to reduce the strength of the sills and also to provide outwardly bent portions for supporting the wing bottoms, which may themselves slope at the same angle as the wing bottoms in which case they themselves may provide the beginning of the upward slope of what may be designated as wing lading bottoms. These outwardly bent portions are also tied in structurally with the side walls of the hood-box so as to give the added strength of the bent sill-section to the sill itself and at the same time to permit the wing bottoms to start at a very low position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mine car frame structure in which the sills may be widely spread in a manner facilitating the provision of greater lading space between the sills while taking care of the strength of the sills at the point where the wheel hubs and axles interfere wtih the continuity of the sill-structure.

Another object of the invention is to so design the novel equipments referred to so that they can be used in cars of the bottom-dumping, rotary or end-dumping types, and regardless of whether or not the two wheels of each pair of oppositely disposed wheels are mounted upon a single cross axle or upon two stub-axles.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more fully understood by following the detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bottom dumping mine car embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the car shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 i an enlarged side elevation of a fra ment of the car of Figure 1 at the position of one of the wheel structures, parts being broken away and the wheel and axle being shown in dot and dash line phantom.

Figure 4 is a central vertical cross section of the parts shown in Figure 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are views generally similar to Figures 3 and e and illustrate a modified form of the invention in which the wheels are mounted on stub axles, a car of the bottom dumping type being shown.

Figures 7 and 8 are views similar to Figures 5 and 6 and illustrate the invention embodied in a car of the rotary dump, stub axle type.

Figure'lZ is a 'view similar to Figure 11 and disclosing a further modification in which provision is made for recessing the innermost whee'lfj i --ing arch means and inner closures for the hoods.

hubs.

Figure 13 is a view similar in some respects to Figures 6 and 12 and illustrates the features. of the simulated figures applie'd'to-ar supported on cross axles. 1

Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical cro ss section taken through a side of a car intermediate the wheels thereof, and illustrating a 'form' of side wing bottom stiffener.

-Figurei l5jis a view similar to Figure 14 and illustrates another form ofj side wing botto stiffener and. another formof gusset.

In the accompanying drawings there are illustrated several examples of practical embodimentofjth'einvention.

"In the former the invention shown in Figures 11130645 of the drawings, the invention i shown as: embodied; in a mine car of the bottom dumpin'g type including. side walls 5 and end walls 6, the side walls being inclined inwardly and downwardly so as'to shed the lading throughith-e bottom dump opening controlled by the bottom dump doors 'l'fw'hich operate between the longitu'dinally" disposed iparallel spaced sill. members BWhichdefinethe bottom dump opening. The doors ma be of any approved construction and the foremost door is pivoted as at 9 in the usual manner. The otherdo'ors have. their pivot rods llhdisp'osedi'n hinge loops it formed on the that'ithe'hinged .edge'of the respective door will.

move beneath'and support'the overlying free edgei'lgzibhth'e next foremost door in the man nerillustratedinJFigul'esI andi3 of the draw structures:

' a'n'd theelements'zil in assembled relation.

4 facilitate close spacing of the wheels and sill members and the provision of a maximum of lading space intervening the inner faces of the sill member vertical flange portions.

The side walls 5 are cut away to accommodate the positioning of hood members 24 which overlie the wheel structures in the well known manner. Eachf hood structure 2d is welded in position, andsecure attachment is'facilitated by provision of suitable supporting brackets 25 secured to wall plates 2b which form sill-reinforc- These plates are secured as at 21 to the elements '26 and also by thesame rivets 2! which secure the vertical'{il ange portions of the sill members Each opposed or cooperating pair of hood end closure plates" 26 is joined in rigid assembly by a crosses member 28 weld-secured to said plates by aid of mounting brackets 29 and comprising a metal plate structure bent into inverted ':U.-form and including downwardly extended lading; shedding fiangeportions 3iljwhich, overliev the'yaxle members It in the manner best'illustrate'd inIFigure 30f the drawings.

It will be noted by reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings that thevertical flange portions of the sillmembers extend full height within each ings. The free" edge of the rearmost door is supported by the usual automatically operable latching equipment generally designated I31 The side wall's'b may b'e-reinfor'ced. at their upper edges bylongitu'dinal'a'ngle meir'rbersld.

The car structure illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings is of the 4-wheel, "2-:axle type, and the sill members 8 are recessed as atiS to clear the crossaxles It on which'thewheels H are mountedx-It will be noted, also, by're'ference to-Figures 1, '3 and 4 of the drawings, that'the horizontal flanges [8 of the sill meinbe'rs"are recessedas at 19 to straddle'the wheel flanges and 't'h'us minimize the space intervening the in nerraces of the wheels and the outer faces of the sill member vertical flange portions. w

A plate or casting 20 is attachedto each sill "member at the position of each"recess' t5, and these elements are secure'das at 2! to the'vertical'fian'ge oft-he sill members. These elements 20 provide widerbea'ring surfaces for the axles V hood structur 'so as to add this strength tothe sill and so as to provide ample surface. for the attachment of the elements 25 and 21h. At each side'of each hood structure, the sill members are split vertically as at 3|, and are bent outwardly-upwardly to form attachingflanges 32 to which the side wall, or wing bottom plating 5 is rigidly secured, and to provide a low start for thefiare of the wing bottoms and increase the strength of the sill construction." This out-3 wardly bent portion isnormally weldedto the vertical transverse side walls of thehood'Struc tures'; It'will be observed by reference to Figure 4 of the drawings that the plating 5.is ex tended inwardly beyond the sillirnembers ilas at 33,.so' as to overhangthe door'sill and. shed la'ding thereover. It; is. to be understood of course that the invention is not limited to any particular angle of presentationof the split and bent'sill portions. The angular relation. of the. respective wall por tions of the'sill me'mbers depends entirely upon the form 'of' side 'wing' bottom "to' 'be used and attached to the split and. bent/sill. portions and said'portions may therefore he horizontally or at various angles. 'ltiwilliibe observed .by reference to Figure '3 of thedrawings that each element 2iliincludes a 'camming or doorwedgin'g surface'fl' li: whichr'is engagedby abutment members 35 secured to the free edge portion 'of the :p'a'rticulari door structureforwedgingthat door structure forwardly into itsdoor securing positionin'the manner V stub" axles t'l uioon 'whicdth'ewheels were tentrallymounted. The s-ill reinforcing =elementand closure plate 39 ro'r eaeh hood structure dn-is opposed by e parallel spaced supper-tin late '4l' which is weld' secu-red within the "liood struc tur by aid of suitable bracket members 42 and to'which an axle. bearing member 43 is rivet-secured as at 44. Eachbearing member 43.includesanaxle socket or recess 45 aligned with the previously mentioned recess orsocket 36 and which completes the bearing for the respective wheel and axle structure 31, 38 with space sufficient to permit dropping of the axle provided at each end. Like the elements 26 the elements 39 are formed of very rigid steel plate forming a stiff girder at each wheel capable of resisting strains in all directions and which completely reinforce the sills where they are recessed at the wheel positions.

It is to be understood that in this form of the invention the same hood closure plate cross tie feature and the sill mounting and splitting features are provided as were described in connection with Figures 3 and 4, the principal difference being provision of the stub axle mounted wheels instead of the wheels being mounted on single cross axles. In this form of the invention, by removal of th brackets 43, the wheel and axle units 37, 38 can be readily canted and removed from the respective hoods.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9, there is illustrated an additional modification of we invention applied to a mine car of the rotary dump type in which the wheels are mounted on stub axles. In this form of the invention, the sill members 46 have their horizontal flanges 41 inwardly directed so as to form rigid supports for the bottom plating 48, and also so as to give horizontal flanges of full width and strength while at the same time increasing the distance between the upright portions of the sill means in such a fashion as to increase the width of the central lading bottom portions at this low level and thus increase the capacity of the car and at the same time obtain a design wherein oppositely disposed wing bottoms may start from positions that are widely spaced apart and which are at low levels thus, again, increasing th capacity of the car. As in th forms of the invention previously described, the vertical flange portions of the sill members are recessed as at 49 to clear the wheel hubs and extend full height as at 50 within the hood structures.

Beyond each hood structure the vertical flange portion of each still member is split as at 5| and bent outwardly-upwardly to provide flare bottom attaching flanges 52 to which the flared'portions 53 of the respective side wing bottom structure is attached, said side wing bottom structure including a horizontal portion 54 which is rigidly secured to the respective body angle 55, thereby providing a wing bottom disposed in two distinct planes whereby a larger capacity for the car is obtained in combination with the required road clearances and means facilitating removal of the wheels. Side wall plating 5B is secured to and extends upwardly from each angle sidewall stiffening member 55 and preferably terminates in a, reinforcing rebent portion 51 best shown in Figure 8 of the drawings.

At the position of each wheel, an angle iron flange member 58 is provided, and its upright flange portion serves as a support for a hood member 59 adapted to overlie and protect the particular wheel portions, and the slope of the angle upward gives a draft which prevents the lading from wedging so that it will not discharge readily when the car is rotated. This construction also obviates-an extra bend in the hood- 'coveriand atithe'same timeincreases the capacity of thecar'somewhat. Each hood structure is likewise attached asat 50 to the side wing bottom plating 54, and'as at 6| to a hood closure and sill-stifiening plate 62 which is cupped inwardly as at 63 to receive the respective wheel hub 64 to thereby enable a positioning of the plate 62 and sill member vertical flange portion very close to the wheel flanges, thereby providing for a "maximum .of lading space intervening said plates 62. .The. plate member 62 is securedas at 65 to the vertical flang portions 50 of the sill memplate 62, both sockets-providing space to permit axles to drop on uneven track.

In Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, there is illustrated still another form of mine car of the rotary dump type including stub axle Wheel mountings. In this form of the invention, the sill members 68 have their horizontal flanges 69 directed inwardly to rigidly support the bottom plating 10.

The vertical flange portions of the sill members are recessed as at H to receive the inner ends of the stub axles, and so as to permit these ends to penetrate the upright plane of the outside of the upright portions of the sill-means as these sill-means extend from an axle towards the adjacent end lading wall of the car, and at the position of each recess a hood closure plate 12 is secured to the inner face of each said vertical flange portion. The sill members also have inner wheel boxes 13 attached thereto at the position of each recess, said boxes having recesses or sockets 14 therein to receive the inner ends of the stub axles 15 which centrally support the wheels 16. It will be noted that these boxes are fastened directly to the vertical portions of the sills below the axle level.

The outer end of each stub axle is mounted in a recess or socket T! in a bracket member 18 riveted to the supporting plate 19 which is opposed to the respective hood closure plate 12. By cutting the rivets fastening the element 18 to the element 19, a wheel and axle canreadily be removed from the car. A hood structure overlies each wheel and is welded to the respective plates 12 and 19 and to reinforcing angle members 8|. The hoods are also secured through the medium of angle irons 82 to the side wall structures 83, each of which includes an angle member 84, the horizontal flanges of which angle members serve to support the side Wing bottom plating 85 which is flange secured as at B6 to the vertical wall portion of the sill members 68. The

hood members 80 are also secured as at 81 to the side wing bottom plating 8-5 as shown in Figure 10 of the drawings.

In Figure 12 there is illustrated an additional modification of the invention which is constructed identically with the forms shown in Figures 10 and 11 except that each hood end closure and reinforcing plate 88 is inwardly cupped as at 89 to receive the respective wheel hub 90 and is fastened to the upright portion of the sill, and the vertical flange portions of each sill are recessed to a greater extent as at 9| so as to re- By this .cupping. or; the

im dvery. close. to the 1 wheel-flanges. with the i pri htportions .of eaCh-.si11:1ying inaplane cutting-v the wheel: hubs. and a. maximum of lading spaceiinterveningtheaxle. members is thus proi ed.

In Figure 13-=the structure. is similar to; that disclosedin Figure; 12exceptthat-in this. illustration the, axle 92 'isof. the cross-over type-and the outerboxings and plates. necessary to. support thestub; axles offFigur'e 12 are eliminated. In

this term, the hood end closing and sill-reinforcing lates. 3=are cupped. asat'. .94. to. .receive the 'wheel hubs95 and theaxle-bearing boxes 96 are provided; With axle bearing apertures/.91 and suitably support a cross tie, member 98 which overlies said; axle-andserves as an axle housing. as well; as a reinforcing support for the. bearing boxes .96.; The. sill members are recessed as at 99 to receive the wheel hubs and -the cupping, of the plates 93 serves-to provide greater lading space intervening opposed--sill;m embers in, the same manner described in, connection with Figure 12.

-It;w i;llbe;.observed that suitable, space is provided under the'hood' structure: and outwardly of. the

plateflste permit easy removal of thewheel from the respective end of the cross-overaxle 92,

Inli'igure 14-there is illustrated a fragmentary vertical section between wheels of a car structure inwhich the side wing bottom .is attachedat a .low point to the outwardly and upwardly bent portion I00.-of thesill memberzlfll and is bent to present; twodistinct lading supportingplanes one thereof H32 being inclined upwardly and outwardly from the sillportion I and the other l-fl3 being; horizontally disposed. In order to, assure against disruption ,of the angular relation of the,wing.portions. I82 and l03 by constant pressure ot-the lading, flare or wingv stiffeners may-be .secured-at intervals to the Wing bottom and sill strueture in the manner shownin this figure. In, this illustration the stiffenercomprises a-flang e,;body portion I04. which is secured to theewing bottom, a flange body portion I05 which -is secured to'the sill structure, and one or more strengthening Webs Wei-joining; said flange body portions.

Figure -15 is a wiew similar to Figure 14 and illustrates; further modified. forms, of flare .or wing stiffener. and gusset structures. Inthis form ofithje invention. each. stiifener is in the form of a ,ecntinuousstrapnrbar 16'! which is; secured to efle i :9 ne bottom. a d 1' ru e 1Si11tmmbe11 The gusset, I 68.,interposed, between the angle or flange -memberl as .and the. side wall structure includes ..a.-fiang e body portion H1 .which" is; secured to thesidemall structure- H1, and a web portion. H2 which is Welded as at ll3-to,,said angle memberill"..- Withthis form of usset,-, a filler. member IA is...interposed between thegusset and the .angle. mernloer I I5 forming ,a part; of

the side .wall structure.-

single-thickness .flat plateor web H9 :disposed ver ically .and. welded.,at., 1ts edges as at; 1 2!] to the engaged portions of. the (side-wall, .the wing 8 I bottom rand-the; angle member. S.ee.:1 igure .14.

' The; 'funct'ionbfithe gussetsl isthe: same how.- ever. formed, anditiwill lbe noted thateach gusset standsioverrthe wheelxand axle axiswithgwhiehiit is... associated. These; elementscooneizatexwith he; r ss e: membe s i g ren t the car laterally. V The sill means are; tiedumwith th'eghgod structures, and; the wing bbttoms'-;and with he r s t e mem rs and the-sidewa struetures; assuring againstispreading of; the car ew s The splitting, and, bending. ,ot the s'ilLmembers-.in-.-the-mannershown provides; practically full strength of sills between endwal lsandiwheel hoods and allows'the outwardly and upwardly bent sill portions to: lie in a a plane which .when extended would pass through the wheel..-hubs, While; at the same; time. at. a. point where; the wheel hubs intervene the straight sectionof. .the sill passes inside thewheellhubs, and provides 'thest raight verticalheight .past the wheel hubsat l anoint where-it does not'interfere withgthe low 1 floor: betweenthe ends of. the. wheel hubs. and the adjacent ends :of. the ear, orlbetween-the con.- tiguous wheelhubs, themselves.

In. the. stuhaxle car, as shown. in..Figur-e 8 ion example, there is provided. a design. which the horizontal flangesof the sills are turned. in.- wardly instead of outwardly asin Figurel3, and thus although theiverticalwalls of, the sills are ut. way at. .t e wheel hubs, nevertheless. the vertical walls between. the wheelhubsanjd adia ntends. f the arf alt the an u r ht plane utt n t o t e Wheel. hubs. Moreover by bending the sills in the manner 'shown Figure 3; a low flare is obtainedwhich increases lading. capacity without. sacrificing strength of sill; The bent sill portionsibeing weldedat .their ends. tothje hood structures, a stronger structure isprovided than would result" if the sills were made normally without splitting and. bending.

.ticala full depths portion lopposedtor-each wheel,

du ine ihe a erage lifethat can- By stub axles'reference. is 'made'to the form of-axlesshown in Figures 6, 83 and 12 upon which individual wheelsare i mounted, as dis;- tinguished from the through axles of Figure 14 each" of 3 which extends; transversely across the car andgbeyonld the sill' structures! andeachof Whichcarries two wheels one ateach end thereof.

The wheels herein illustrated all include the flanges usuallyremployed in railway rolling stock. In cars embodying thginvention; and employing flanged 'wheels', the treads-of the wheels *may be defined as the portions-of-the wheel-faces outside the-flanges and which bear against-the track 1 rails; whereas in llvehicles which-empley -wheels dev oid ot-flanges the treadsot such-wheels may be defined. as the portions. of the v.wheels which come in contactwith-the ground and-support the wheels on. the. Iground.

include an upright wa ll and-a horizontal, l outwardlylorinwardly;directed.:flange; The upright wall; is: .of.::single dimension. or, depth; .but& .it. :will be.lobserved..-by,reference tol igure 9 of the..drawings that this; single; dept-h -walli includeslzspor tions which lie: inidifierentiplanes, namely (a :ver-

andra' partial; depth-portion; intervening. the wh els: and the-wheels .andythe; car.::ends which are angled pw dl a outwardly... has b n t m ed tha each extra-.xcubic feet: of -lading' capacity; provided in; a minegcar rr mbed m ntvoi. the; r ncipleszo nvention es. saves-more t an. ttwe ty dolla s The l novel sill: members ne-rein 1 disclosed- =each It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope or my invention.

I claim:

1. In a mine car, spaced longitudinal sill-elements each including substantially upright lading space defining portions that extend substantially from one end of the car to the other, car axles disposed transversely of the sill-elements, car wheels on said axles located close to and outside said sill-elements, a lading-supporting bottom structure located between said sill-elements and disposed at least in part beneath the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, and car body structure including wheel hood structures and including also outwardly extending and upwardly sloped side-wing-bottom portions in rigidly secured relation with said sill-elements and interseoting the said horizontal plane outwardly of the outside of the aid substantially upright portions of the sill-elements.

. 2; In a mine car, spaced longitudinal sill-elements of rolled metal each including substantially upright first portions that extend substantially from one end of the car to the other; car axles disposed transversely of the sill-elements, car wheels on said axles located close to and outside said substantially upright sill-element first portions; a central lading bottom at least in part located below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels; car body structure including side wing bottom portions and also hood structures closely overlying the car wheels close to the inside of each wheel and with inside upright closure walls; each said sill-element also including a second longitudinal portion being an upright extension of one of the said first upright portions where it passes a car wheel, and third longitudinal portions where these said upright portions are located away from the hood-structures, said third portions extending outwardly from the said first portion at an angle to the said first upright portion, the said third portions serving at least in part as engagement surfaces for adjacent parts of the said side wing-bottom portions.

3. A mine car structure as defined in claim 1, in which the length of the upright lading space defining portion of each sill member spanning the space between the limits of each hood structure in the direction of the length of the respective sill member extends in a single upwardly extending plane and portions of said sill member not spanning a space between limits within a hood structure are bent at an angle to serve as engaging flanges for the lower edges of the wing bottom portions and in which said axle members comprise stub axles, there being one stub axle for each wheel, and wherein there is included means by which each said axle supports the body outside of the respective wheel on said axle, and

means by which the end of each axle inwardly of the respective wheel supports the body structure at least in part through the upright lading space defining sill portion spanning the space between the limits of the adjacent hood.

4. In a bottom-dumping mine car, longitudinal sill members disposed in spaced relation and substantially parallel throughout their length and each including an upwardly extending lading space defining flange portion and an outwardly directed flange portion, axle members disposed transversely o1 the sill members, wheels on said axle members, lading supporting drop doors 10 located between said sill members and disposed at least in part beneath the horizontal plane 00- cupied by the wheel axes, and body structure including a hood structure overlying each wheel and side wing portions in rigidly seouredrelation with the sill members and outwardly and upwardly flared and intersecting the horizontal plane occupied by the wheel axes outwardly of said sill member upwardly extending flange portions, each said hood structure including an inner closure wall, and each said sill member having axle accommodating clearances in its upwardly extending flange portion, a sill reinforcin member opposed to each hood structure closure wall and bearing upon the axle under said hood structure, and means securing each reinforcing member and closure wall to the upwardly extending flange portion of the adjacent sill member; said cluding an upwardly extending lading space do fining flange portion and a substantially horizon tal flange portion, axle members disposed transversely of the sill members, wheels on said axle members, lading supporting means located between said sill members and disposed at least in part beneath the horizontal plane occupied by the wheel axes, and body structure including a hood structure overlying each wheel and side wing portions in rigidly secured relation with the sill members and outwardly and upwardly flared and intersecting the horizontal plane occupied by the wheel axes outwardly of said sill member upwardly extendin flange portions, each said hood structure including an inner closure wall, a sill reinforcing member opposed to each hood structure closure wall and bearing upon the axle under said hood structure, and means securing each reinforcing member and closure wall to the upwardly extending flange portion of the adjacent sill member, said upwardly extending flange portions at points outside the hood structures being inclined to the vertical and to the remainder of said upwardly extending flange portions to serve as engaging flanges for the lower edges of the wing bottom flare, each said wheel including an inwardly directed hub, said upwardly extending sill flange portions having clearances therein large enough to receive said wheel hubs, and said hood structure closure walls being cupped inwardly to receive said wheel hubs and permit the upwardly extending sill flange portions to be placed very close to the upright planes of the inside edges of the tread surfaces of said wheels.

6. In a bottom-dumping mine car, spaced longitudinal sill-elements each including a substantially upright lading space defining portion continuous from end to end of said car, car axles disposed transversely of the sill-elements, car wheels on said axles located close to and outside said sill-elements, car body structure including wheel hood structures and outwardly extending and upwardly sloped side wing bottom portions in rigidly secured relation with said sill-elements and intersecting the horizontal plane of the axes of the Wheels outwardly of the outside of the said substantially upright portions of the sillelements, and drop bottom door structures located between said sill-elements and disposed at least'in' part beneath the said horizontal plane and forming substantially continuous lading seals with the continuoussubstantially upright si'llelement portions.

'7. In a mine car, wheels and individual stub axles for said wheels at each side of the car, a sill member extending longitudinally of the car along each side of the car, a central lading bottom substantially closing the space between the sill-members and cooperatin with the sill members in forming a center bottom lading space extending below the plane in which the wheel axes are located, a side wing bottom extending laterally-outwardly from each sill member at a level higher than that of the center bottom and having openings therethrough through which said wheels extend upwardly, wheel hooding structures overlying said wheels and closing the wing bottom openings and bearing means for each stub axle, each said sill member including an upright center bottom lading space defining surface disposed inwardly of the wheels at the particular side of the car and at least in part beneath the horizontal plane in which the wheel axes lie and so close to adjacent wheels as to lie in an upright plane which intersects the stub axles at that side of the car, thereby to provide wider than conventional spacing between said lading space defining surfaces and resultant greater than conventional lading capacity in said center bottom lading space.

8. In a wheeled car including a lading body structure and a lading bottom, the combination of axles for the wheels, at least two spaced-apart sill-means extending in substantially parallel relation longitudinally of the car and lying between the-innermost limits of the treads of wheels and which have outwardly directed substantially horizontal portions and other upwardly extending portions; the said sill-means being in themselves sufiiciently strong to support without objectionable end-drooping or twisting or warping the lading in the ends of the car as well as the lading in the sides of the car, said bottom structure including a centrallongitudinally extending lading bottom-means located between oppositely disposed sill-means and having top surface-portions at least in part located below the horizonta l plane of the axes of the wheels and a wing lading-bottom outside of each of two oppositely disposed sill-means, each said wing bottom being sealed with respect to the adjacent sill-means and extending outwardly and upwardly beyond the adjacent sill means and lying in a plane cutting the adjacent wheels, and means covering the wheels to prevent leakage of lading, said upwardly extending sill-means portions lying in at least two' planes one of which is upright adjacent each wheel and another of which is acutely inclined laterally with respect to said one plane and "cooperating with the adjacent wing bottom ineffecti-ng said seal, and each upwardly extending portion in the upright plans being disposed so close to the adjacent wheel as to place the associated acutely inclined portion in position for traversing the upright plane in which the flange of said adjacent wheel is located, thereby to space the upwardly extendin sill-means portions at opposite sides of the car a greater than conventional distance apart and provide a greater than conventional amount of lading space between said two oppositely disposed sill-means. o 9. A car structure as in claim 1, in Which the hood structureseach includes alongitudinallading sealing wall disposed inwardly of the wheel structures, and in which said upright sill-element portions are disposed very close to the wheel hubs and are in rigidly secured relation ship with said hood walls.

10. In a car structure of the character de-- scribed, a sillmember comprising a substantially horizontal flange portion and an upwardly-extending wall, said wall having axle accommodating openings therein and extending full height a limited distance in each direction from each opening and having the portions thereof endwise of each full height portion disposed substantially vertically throughout only the lower portion of their height and on an upward-outward incline throughout the remaining or upper portion of their height thereby to provide additional sill strength and inclined wing bottom supporting.

portions to which; wing bottoms can be attached at a level below the full height of saidfullheight portions.

11. In a wheeled car including a lading body structure and a lading bottom drop-door structure, the combination of axles for the wheels, at least two spaced-apart sill-elements in part between oppositely disposed wheels, and having upwardly extending portions cut by the horizontal plane of the axes of the wheels opposite the wheels and having lower upwardly extending portions extending continuously in substantially parallel relation substantially from end to end of the lading body of the car, and the said sillelements having outwardly directed lower stiffening flanges, and the said sill-elements being in themselves sufiiciently strong to support without objectionable end-dropping or twisting or warping the lading in the ends of the car as well as the lading in the side of the car, a centrallading bottom structure extending longitudinally between oppositely disposed sill-elements and having top surface portions at least in part located below the horizontal plane of the axes of the wheels and a wing lading-bottom outside of eachof two oppositely disposed sill-elements, each said wing bottom being sealed with respect to the adjacent sill-element and extending outwardly and upwardly beyondthe adjacent sillelement in an upward slope sufficient to assure the discharge of superimposed lading by gravity through the said bottom drop-doors when dropped andlying in a plane cutting the adjacent wheels, and means covering the wheels to prevent leakage of lading, and a portion of each said wing bottom as it passesoutwardly and upwardly away from an adjacent sill-means lying in a plane which intersects the horizontal plane of the wheel axes at a point which is located outside of the plane occupied by portions of the outside surface of the lower upwardly extending portions of the adjacent sill-elements.

12. In a mine car wherein is provided supporting wheels, sill elements extending longitudinally of the car between opposed wheels, wheel-hoodstructures, wing lading bottoms extending outwardly and upwardly from top portions of adjacent sill-elements where these top portions lie between car wheels and adjacent ends of the car, a central longitudinal lading bottom lying at least in part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, said sill-elements being cut by the horizontal plane of the axes of the wheels of the car and being separate from the adjacent outwardly extending lading bottom of the car and each constituting a stiff metal angle having an outwardly extending ibottom flangeportion and a substantially upright flange-portion, and part of each said upright flange-portion extending longitudinally substantially from end to end of the lading bottom of the car close to the inside of an adjacent car wheel hoodstructure and the said element having the portions of its otherwise upright flange-portion bent outwardly between each car wheel and the adjacent end of the lading body and between car Wheels along a line below full height ofthe portions of the upright fiange portion lying opposite Wheels whereby the upright height of the said outwardly bent flange portions is lowered in the location in which the respective wing lading bottom extends from top portions thereof, and whereby the adjacent said wing lading bottom meets the top portions of the adjacent sillelement at a low level to provide larger ladin capacity in the car.

13. A mine car structure as defined in claim 12 in which each hood structure cuts through the plane of the adjacent wing-bottom, each said hood-structure having a longitudinal andsubstantially upright wall passing close to the in-- side of the wheel hooded by it, and having another transverse substantially upright wall extending outwardly from the said longitudinal wall, and the said sill-element having portions rigidly secured to the said longitudinal wall and other portions rigidly secured to the said transverse wall.

'14. In a mine car, a lading body, supporting wheels, two parallel metal sill-elements extending longitudinally and at least in part integrally substantially from end to end of the lading body to provide at least a major part of the stiffness needed to carry the lading load in the end of the car, each of said sill-elements where opposite said wheels being in flange-sections disposed in two general planes the first one of which is sub: stantially upright and the second one of which is substantially horizontal, and the sill-elements where not opposed to the said wheels lying in flange-sections in three planes two of which are those already referred to and the third plane section extending outwardly, said sill-elements being placed with their upright sections so close to adjacent Wheels that their third plane sections cut across and extend beyond the plane in which the adjacent car wheel flanges are located whereby greater stiffness of sill against warping and twisting is obtained between car wheels and the adjacent ends of car, and the upright section from which said third plane section extends outwardly being of lesser height than the upright section opposite said wheels.

15. A structure as defined in claim 14 wherein are provided hood-structures overlying the wheels and having substantially upright longitudinal and transverse walls and wherein increased stillness of sills is provided where the flange sections occupy two general planes only by their being rigidly attached to the substantially upright longitudinal walls of the said hood-structures.

, 16. A structure as defined in claim 14 wherein are provided hood-structures overlying the wheels and having substantially upright longitudinal and transverse walls and wherein increased stiffness of sills is provided where the flange-sections occupy three general planes by the rigid attachment of one end of that portion of a sill-section lying in the third plane to the upright transverse walls'of an adjacent hood-structure.

17. A structure as defined in claim 14 wherein said second sections of the sill-elements which lie in the substantially horizontal plane extend outwardly from the lower portion of said first sections and at a level which is below the horizontal plane-0f the axes of the car wheels.

18. In a drop bottom mine car, car axles, car wheels, two parallel longitudinal rolled metal sillmeans extending from above down through the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, lading body structure including win lading bottoms shaped so that when the doors are dropped all the lading of the car is discharged by gravity through the opening thus provided, a plurality of drop doors which when closed seal the central longitudinal area of the car, the said sillmeans having substantially upright first portions passing in integral section substantially from end to end of the lading body of the car in a straight line and close to and between oppositely disposed car wheels, and the first said portions being in lading sealing relationship with at least part of the adjacent edges of closed dr p doors, and having second portions of the said sill-means which are located below the said plane and which extend outwardly from the bottom of the said first portions to provide stiffening flanges, and having third portions of each of the said sill-means extending outwardly and upwardly from the upper part of said first portions where these first portions are located away from the places in opposition to the car wheels, and the said third portions lying in planes cutting the adjacent car wheels below the top surfaces of the treads of the said car wheels and lying at an angle to the horizontal greater than the angle of repose of the lading in the car whereby the said third portions serve at least in part as portions of the wing lading bottom structures for deflecting some of the superimposed lading to the place of discharge between the dropped doors, and wheel hooding structures which are in rigidly secured relationship with the said sill means and which stiffen the sill-means against warping and twisting.

19. In a car structure of the character described, a longitudinal sill member comprising a substantially horizontal flange portion and an upwardly extended wall, said upwardly extended wall being verticall split in a transverse plane downwardly from its upper extremity and being bent laterally throughout 'a portion of its length on a line below its upper extremity commencing at said split whereby to provide two portions of said upwardly extended wall lying in different planes one unbent and substantially vertical for opposition to a wheel and another angled outwardly with relation to the first to provide additional sill strength and for attachment with a wing bottom at a level lower than the upper extremity ofsaid unbent portion. i

20. In a mine car, wheels having inwardl directed hubs, individual stub axles for said wheels, a sill member extending longitudinally of the car along each side of the car, each said sill member including a substantially horizontal fiange and an upwardly extending wall portion disposed at least in part beneath the horizontal plane in which the wheel axes he, a central lading bottom substantially closing the space between the' sill members and cooperating with the innermost faces of the upwardly extending sill member wall portions in defining a center bottom lading space, a wing bottom extending laterallyoutwardly from each sill member at a level higher than said center bottom, said upwardly extending sill member wall portions being disposed so close to adjacent wheels that the innermost faces thereof lie in an upright plane which interseots the wheel hubs at that side of the car, and bearing means for each stub axle attached in part to a sill member and in part to other parts of the car structure.

21. In a mine car, spaced longitudinal sill-elements, axle members disposed transversely of the sill-elements, wheels on said axles, lading supporting means closing the space between the sill-elements and disposed at least in part beneath the horizontal plane occupied by the wheel axes, and body structure including wheel hood structures and side wing bottom portions in rigidly secured relation with said sill-elements, each said sill-element comprisinga stifi metal angle having a substantially horizontally extending bottom flange and an upwardly extending flangeportion extending longitudinally from end to end of the body structure, each said upwardly extending flange-portion being substantially vertically disposed throughout its full height within the lengthwise limits of the hood structures-at the same side of the car and having those portions thereof located between said hood structures and those portions thereof located between ends of the body structure and adjacent hood structures inclined outwardly-upwardly throughout a portion at least of the depth thereof whereby the depth of the upwardly extending fiangeportion is reduced between said hood structures and between hood structures and adjacent ends of the body structure, said side wing bottom portions being secured to the outwardly-upwardly inclined reduced depth sill-element portions thereby to provide larger lading capacity in the car.

22. A mine car structure as defined in claim 21, in which each hood structure cuts through the plane of the adjacent wing-bottom and includes a longitudinal and substantially upright wall passing close to and inwardly of the wheel hooded by it and another transverse substantially upright wall extending outwardly from said longitudinal wall, and in which the adjacent outwardly-upwardly inclined portion of the respective upwardly extending sill flange-portion ,is rigidly secured to the respective transverse upright hood structure wall.

23. A mine car structure as defined in claim 21, in which each hood structure cuts through the plane of the adjacent wing-bottom and includes a longitudinal and substantially upright wall passing close to and inwardly of the wheel hooded by it and another transverse substantially upright wall extending outwardly from said longitudinal Wall, and in which the upwardly extending sill flange-portion is split downwardly from its top edge at the position of each hood structure transverse wall in order to facilitate shaping of the outwardly-upwardly inclined portion of the upwardly extending sill flange-portion and each said outwardly-upwardly inclined portion is rigidly secured to the respective transverse wall at the respective split.

24. In a mine car, spaced longitudinal sill members each including upwardly extending and substantially horizontal flange portions, axle members disposed transversely of the sill members, wheels on said axles, a central lading bottom substantially closing the space between said sill members, and body structure including side walls, a hood structure over each wheel and side wing bottom portions sealed with respect to said sill members and side walls, each said sill member upwardly extending flange portion extending upwardly full height in a single plane throughout each portion thereof which spans the space between the limits of a hood structure in the direction of the length of said sill mem: her and other upwardly extending flange portions of each said sill member away from the hood structures being bent outwardly at anangle along a line disposed lower than said full height for sealing association with a wing bottom just beyond each hood structure in the direction .of the length of the car in each direction, each hood structure being weld-secured to a, sill member at the position of each outward bend therein adjacent the respective hood structure. 1 25.,In a mine car, wheels and individual stub axles for said wheels at eachxside of the car, wheel hooding structures overlying the wheels, stub axle bearing means, a sill member at each side'of the car and extendin longitudinally of the car at least in part beneath the stub axles, said bearing means being attached at least in part to said sill members, a centrallading bottom substantially closing the space between the sill members, side and end wall structures, side wing bottom structures sealing those portions of the spaces between each sill mem-ber'and the adjacent side wall structure not sealed by said hood structures, said side wing bottoms being formed of plating portions bearin angular relation one to another with portions thereof disposed in planes intersecting the upright planes in which the wheel flanges are located at points below the level of the wheel axes, and the portion of each wing bottom laterally-outwardly of the hooding structures at respective sides of the car being continuous from end to end of the car and being located above the horizontal plane occupied by the stub axle axes, and stifiener means conforming to the angular shape of and secured to the side wing bottom structures and to the sill members for retaining the angular relation of and preventing straightening out of said plating by downward pressure of the supported lading, .said stiffener means being in rigid attachment-relationship with said plating.

26. In a mine car, car wheels and individual stub axles for said wheels at each side of the car, longitudinally extending sill-elements inside oppositely disposed car wheels, bearing means for said stub axles attached at least in part to said sill-elements, a central lading bottom lying at least in part below the horizontal plane ofthe axes of the car wheels and substantially closing the space between the sill-elements and cooperating with said sill-elements in forming a center bottom lading space extending below the plane in which the wheel axes are located, a side Wing bottom extending laterally-outwardly from each sill-element at a level higher than that of the central lading bottom and having openings therethrough through which said wheels extend upwardly, wheel hooding structures closely overlying the car wheels and closing the wing bottom openings and with inside longitudinal closure walls close to adjacent wheels, each said sill-element including an upwardly extending center bottom lading space defining surface disposed at least in part beneath the horizontal plane in which the wheel axes lie and so close to adjacent wheels as to lie in an upright plane which intersects the stub axles at that sideof the car, thereby to provide wider than convenzional spacing between said lading space definlng surfaces and resultant greater than conventional lading capacity in said center bottom lading space.

27. In a mine car, spaced longitudinal sillelements each including lading space defining portions that extend substantially from end to end of the lading space in the car, car axles disposed transversely of the sill-elements, car ,wheels on said axles located close to and outlside said sill-elements, a lading-supporting bottom structure located between said sill-elements -and disposed at least in part beneath the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, and car body structure including wheel hood structures and including also outwardly extending and upwardly sloped side-wing-bottom portions in rigidly secured relation with said sill-elements and intersecting the said horizontal plane :outwardly of said lading space defining sill portions.

28. In a mine car, a sill member comprising a rolled steel shape having a substantially horizontally disposed bottom flange portion and an upright 'wall portion, said upright wall portion lying in a single plane throughout a portion of its length and in two planes throughout another portion of its length one of said two planes extending uprightly from said bottom flange and the other of said two planes extending upwardly and outwardly from said one plane at an angle intersecting said single plane.

29. In a mine car, wheels and individual stub axles for said Wheels at each side of the car, wheel hooding structures overlying the wheels, a sill member extending longitudinally of the car along each side of the car, each said sill member including an upright wall portion disposed at least in part beneath the horizontal plane occupied by the wheel axes and at least in part presenting a central lading space defining surface disposed so close to adjacent wheels as to lie in an upright plane which intersects the stub axles at that side of the car, a central lading bottom substantially closing the space between the sill members, a wing bottom extending outwardly from each sill member at a level higher than the central lading bottom, and bearing means for each stub axle attached in part to a sill member and in part to other parts of the car structure.

30. In a mine car, wheels and individual stub axles for said wheels at each side of the car, wheel hcoding structures overlying the wheels, sill members extending longitudinally of the car between oppositely disposed car wheels, each said sill member including a substantially upright wall portion disposed at least in part beneath the horizontal plane occupied by the wheel axes and serving at least in part as a lading retaining wall of a central lading space, each said lading retaining wall lying in a plane which intersects the adjacent stub axle at the respective side of the car thereby to provide maximum lading capacity or width between said ladin retaining walls, a central lading bottom substantially closing the space between said lading retaining walls, a wing bottom extending outwardly from each sill member at a level higher than the central lading bottom, and bearing means for said stub axles.

31. In a mine car, wheels and individual stub axles for said wheels at each side of the car, wheel hooding structures overlying the wheels, sill members extending longitudinally of the car between oppositely disposed car wheels, each said sill member including a substantially upright wall portion disposed at least in part beneath the horizontal plane occupied by the wheel axes and serving at least in part as a lading retaining wall of a central lading space, said lading retaining-walls being spaced apart a greater distance than are the opposed ends of stub axles disposed at opposite sides of the car thereby to cause said lading retaining walls to intersect the stub axles close to and inwardly of the wheels at the respective sides of the car and define between them a central lading space of maximum width, a central lading bottom substantially closing the space between said lading retaining walls, a wing bottom extending outwardly from each sill member at a level higher than the central lading bottom, and bearing means for said stub axles.

32. In a drop bottom mine car, two sill memers extending in parallel spaced relation longitudinally of the car, car axles intersecting said sill members, car wheels on said axles, a plurality of drop doors which when closed seal the central longitudinal area of the car between the sill members, lading body structure including wing lading bottoms shaped so that when the doors are dropped all the lading in the car is discharged by gravity through the opening thus provided, and hood structures over said wheels, each said sill member comprising a mill rolled steel shape having a substantially horizontally and outwardly extending bottom flange portion and a substantially upright wall portion, said substantially upright wall portion lying in a single plane at each portion thereof intersected by an axle and in at least two planes throughout other portions thereof extending endwise between said single plane portions and between said single plane portions and the sill member ends, one of said at least two planes of each of said other portions extending uprightly from said bottom flange and another of said at least two planes of each of said other portions extending upwardly and outwardly from said one plane at an angle and intersecting said single plane and forming a support for the adjacent wing bottom at a level below the top of said single plane upright wall portion.

HUGH W. SANFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,734,473 Willoughby Dec. 9, 1930 2,051,533 Abkowitz et al Aug, 18, 1936 2,056,651 Edmunds Oct. 6, 1936 2,086,924 Schmohl July 13, 1937 2,095,343 Sanford Oct, 12, 1937 1,851,214 Sanford et a1. Mar. 29, 1932 1,908,015 Getaz May 9, 1933 1,937,556 Field Dec. 5, 1933 1,937,618 Willoughby Dec. 5, 1933 1,962,723 Pancake June 12, 1934 2,097,969 Edmunds et al Nov. 2, 1937 2,037,929 Sanford Apr, 21, 1936 1,649,396 Field Nov. 15, 1927 1,263,283 Petersen Apr. 16, 1918 1,599,330 Irvin Sept. 7, 1926 1,631,313 Field June 7, 1927 2,250,555 Schroeder July 29, 1941 2,250,538 Kepner et a1 Jul 29, 19 11 

